Croatian FI Founder Takes to the Deep with Ducky, the Submarine

When working with entrepreneurs from all over the world, you tend to see some rather outlandish ideas; everything from sex apps (Singapore Grad, Vibease) to applications that have you running from demons and ghoulish monsters (San Diego Grad, Explorence). This Croatian founder, however, is taking us to an entirely new level. Literally.

Marin Bek, a graduate of the University of Zagreb, is the founder of Marine Tech Factory, a submarine startup that is in the process of patenting a few very innovative approaches to deep ocean exploration. So far he has built an ROV or AUV, for remotely operated vehicle or autonomous underwater vehicle. Marin’s goal is to develop technology that will allow deep sea exploration devices to go deeper and farther than ever before. A concept that will undoubtedly revolutionize the way we explore and study the ocean, Marin says, “We can go to Mars, but the deep ocean really is our final frontier”.

His prototype, which he affectionately named “DuckyAUV”, differs from competitors by utilizing a propulsion system without a pressured hull. As the pressure of the depths becomes too intense for most submarine devices to withstand, Ducky operates with an underwater propulsion system that doesn’t require a sealed hull, ultimately allowing it to travel deeper.

While Marin’s prototype continues to be perfected, he is looking into potential markets beyond deep sea exploration, such as utilizing Ducky as a tool for oil rig inspection, private boat inspection, and even recreational use. To learn more about Ducky and even see her in action, check out the full article here by Raf Weverbergh of WhiteBoard Mag.

The Founder Institute is the world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 50 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 1,563 companies in 5 years. The company's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and build sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.